[BobbyB]

The Time Has Come to Pass the ALS Registry Act!



We have great news...the Senate is expected to vote on legislation that includes the ALS Registry Act as soon as this week! This is what we all have been working for. And it means that it's absolutely critical that you contact your Senators and urge them to join us in our fight for a treatment and cure.

Late yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced the Advancing America's Priorities Act (S. 3297). The bill includes the ALS Registry Act as well as other legislation that has been blocked from consideration by Senator Tom Coburn. For the past several months, we have worked closely with Senator Reid behind the scenes to move the bill forward and now we have an opportunity to take the next step and pass the ALS Registry Act in the Senate!

This is the opportunity we have been working toward. And it may be our last and only chance to pass the bill this year, so we need your help TODAY.

A sample letter you can send to your Senators is available on the Advocacy Action Center (http://capwiz.com/alsa/home/) of our website. Please send the letter today and ask your Senators to vote for S. 3297, the Advancing America's Priorities Act, which includes the ALS Registry Act. Let them know that by voting for this critical legislation, they can help us find a treatment and cure for Lou Gehrig's disease. People with ALS don't have time to wait!

And please remember, only contact the Senators representing your state, for Senators are most responsive to their own constituents. If you don't know the names of your Senators, don't worry, the Advocacy Action Center will identify them for you.

After you send your letter, please forward this alert to your entire address book and tell your family, friends and colleagues to do so as well. We need as many people as possible to contact their Senators in support of S. 3297.

We will keep you up-to-date as the bill moves forward and the vote is scheduled. So please keep an eye out for our Action Alerts. We anticipate that several votes may take place and we will be asking you to reach out to your Senators before every vote!

We want to thank everyone in advance for their outreach. Together, we can pass the ALS Registry Act!

If you have any questions or would like additional information about this Action Alert, please contact the Advocacy Department at advocacy@alsa-national.org or toll-free at 1-877-444-ALSA.

THANK YOU!

[BillO]

Dear Mr. Weiss.,
Knowing of your interest in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the ALS Registry Act of 2007, I wanted to provide you with an update on recent legislative activity on this topic.

One of my highest legislative priorities has always been promoting research and development in the realm of disease control and eventual eradication. ALS is a particularly sinister and progressive disease that affects more and more families each year, extracting not only a physical toll on its victims but a large psychological toll on relatives and loved ones. Any effort that I can make that will contribute to a greater medical understanding of ALS is a worthwhile undertaking.
HR 2295, the ALS Registry Act of 2007, will establishment a national ALS registry. This database will help identify the incidence and prevalence of ALS in the U.S.; collect data important to the study of ALS; promote a better understanding of ALS; collect information that is important for research into the genetic and environmental factors that cause ALS; make available information to patients about research studies for which they may be eligible; maintain information about clinical specialists and clinical trials on therapies; and enhance efforts to find treatments and a cure for ALS.

I am an original cosponsor of HR 2295, the ALS Registry Act of 2007. On October 16, 2007, the House passed HR 2295, and I voted for this bill. Please be assured that you can count on my continued support for finding a cure to ALS. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact my office.


Sincerely,
JIM MATHESON
Member of Congress